10 ways to get a veterinary team job

With unemployment rates still hovering around 7 percent, many people are job hunting. So if the search for a new position is leaving you puzzled, here's help. Your resumé is the first and only chance you get to show the employer who you are, your skill set and why they can't live another day without you.

Recently, we've been trying to hire, but we're getting resumés that scream, "Don't hire me!" Let's use some of the recent applicant errors I've seen—and the sample cover letter on page 11—to help you avoid 10 common mistakes.

1. Check your email address

I know you think you were creative when you chose your email address, but it sends the entirely wrong message when your resumé comes from sexymama@XXX.com. Email addresses are free, so make an appropriate one to send your resumé.

2. Skip the photos

I'm not a fan of photos in a resumé. And now you should also consider your Google+ account. If you're on Google+, your profile photo comes to me when I receive your resumé. Last week, one of my managers received a resumé, and the photo in the corner of the email was an attractive young lady flipping the bird! Yes, our first impression was her middle finger in our face.

3. Double-check your spell check

Spell check is a life saver for those who struggle with spelling, but keep in mind that spell check will correctly spell the wrong word. I was hiring for a dog day care some time back and the resumé came over the fax with the words (bold type of course) that said, "Seeking position in dog day care prostitution." Yes, I swear this is true. On the bright side, prostitution was spelled correctly.

4. Grammar counts

Ask someone to read your resumé. Remember to check words with multiple spellings and meanings, like "two," "too" and "to." Tune into lengthy or run-on sentences. Remember that there needs to be a period somewhere, and a comma doesn't take the place of a period.

5. Don't photograph your resumé

You read that right. We've actually had applicants take pictures of their resumés and send them as photo attachments in emails. This does not scream, "Hire me!"